6 Short Stories

By Crystal Tarling

This is a selection of 6 rather different short stories for you to sample examples of my writing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Tarling
• Release date: Jan 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393222132

Crystal Tarling

I was adopted as young baby and had a wonderful life full of adventure and imagination.  Stories come naturally to me.

Book preview

Combining Business image4.png

Thank you. I wish you all the best and may you all have a good break now.  We’ll see you all back at work on the 8th. Have a wonderful 2018. I stepped off the stage and walked to my table amidst clapping.

I had a large staff and loved every minute of my life. The only downside was the constant attention from the opposite sex.  Everyone who thought I should not be single.  As if I was interested in marrying any of them. From old and grey to almost young enough to be my child. Hell, do I really need this extra pressure in my life? If I needed to get laid, I had enough numbers in my book to call.  They had no expectations and neither did I.  Mutual satisfaction and that is all.

We had a good year and this month break was the least I could do for my hard-working staff. I sat and watched them move around talking or dancing. Some as usual, were imbibing too much.  The security staff will see them all home. They are contracted to me. All I wanted to do was slip out and go home, slip off these damn heels and soak in a bath. I felt someone watching me and turned and looked into the bluest eyes ever. They were framed by long thick black lashes and were in a handsome tanned face that I had to crane my neck to see.  He had to be six four or five.

He made his way through the throng and stopped at my table. May I?

I signalled him to sit down. I don’t believe we have met. I am Logan Thorpe. I have a business proposition to make to you.

On the last day of work and at our year end party? I arched my brow at him.

Yes, unfortunately I was delayed in New York and could not get here earlier. Is there somewhere that we can talk? He smiled and I immediately felt my panties get wet.

My office is on the next floor.  Come. I got up and lead the way.

In my office I offered him a drink.  We both had whiskey on the rocks. So, spill. I raised my glass to him.

I own a business with offices in Cape Town and Pretoria and have 25 outlets. We manufacture and sell high end jewellery and clothing. You sell high end cosmetics and health products. I want us to combine and rule the market. Our products are complementary and would work well together. We share in the profits and my company had a 2 billion turnover this last year, so you need not think you are on a losing end here. I know your turnover was also in the same bracket. I have the opportunity to expand into New York and London but would prefer to do it with the full product line and not just clothes and jewellery.  Here in my card.  Look up my website and call me in the morning.  We can go out to lunch and talk. He dropped a card on my table and downed the last of his whiskey and got up to leave.

Wait. Have you outlined a proposal yet? I asked.

Of course. He said.

Here is my card.  E-mail it tonight so I look over it and I’ll call you in the morning. I handed him my card and he left.

I sat back and sighed. This may be what I needed.  A new challenge – both work wise and in my private life.

I packed up and went home. I had a long soak in the Jacuzzi with a glass of whiskey and relaxed.  When I had my robe on, I checked my mail and sure enough, there was the e-mail from Logan. I sat to read it and was impressed. He had put a lot of thought and work into this.  It looked impressive.

I decided to sleep on it and look at it again in the morning. I woke and poured coffee. I took my coffee into the office and read the proposal through again. I liked what I saw.  I e-mailed it to Brandon to look through from the legal aspect saying I am thinking about it and I wanted his legal opinion by lunchtime today.

At eleven he phoned and told me that it would be silly not to go for it. He foresaw no legal problems. I phoned Logan to meet me at Hilton’s at 12:30. I reserved a table and was waiting when he arrived.

A lady who is early. You definitely are a rarity. He kissed my hand and sat down.

The waiter came and Logan asked me what I wanted to drink.  I asked for wine. Logan ordered a bottle. It arrived and was put on ice. He poured for both of us.

Have you had a chance to look at the proposal yet? He asked.

Of course. I would not be meeting you if I had not. I smiled to lower the intensity of my words. Tell me more about the practicalities and day to day running that you foresee here. I have 15 outlets and sell in many other stores.  Do you see yourself moving into them and me moving my products into your outlets?

Yes to both. The more outlets we have for both, the more advantages we have. I told you I have the possibility of moving into London and New York.  There will be numerous outlets in each. I am still finalising the deal there. I would love it if you came aboard before that is finalised so we venture into those together from day one. I have an agreement here for you to look at and will e-mail it to you for your lawyers if you like it. He handed me a folder.

I opened it and perused it. Mmm, it seems fair and doable.  Let me have it electronically for Brandon to look over.  He took out his phone and sent it. I took mine out and forwarded it to Brandon.

We ate and talked about details and our stores and my cell dinged. Brandon said sign it.

I smiled and took out my pen and signed both copies.  Logan signed both and handed me a copy and put his in his briefcase. Now that the business side is complete, let’s talk about you, He smiled.

Oh, me? What do you want to know that is not already out there? I laughed.

The truth and not the lies they spread about us. He laughed too. Do you also find every Tom, Dick and Harry after you and you know it is for your money and not for you?

I laughed. Yes, although I cannot imagine you having every Tom, Dick and Harry after you. Rather every Lucy, Mary and Priscilla.

We had a good laugh together and it felt great. We spent a couple of hours over lunch and then he asked me to have dinner with him and I agreed. He took the bill and paid it. He walked me to my car and said he would pick me up at 7.

I drove home smiling.  I felt relaxed and ready for anything.  I had not felt this good in years.

I decided to have a rest - something I rarely do during the day. I woke at 5 refreshed and had a quick shower. I dressed in a flowing blue dress that I knew accentuated my body.  I paired it with heels. I could seldom wear heels as most men are shorter than my 5 eight.

At 7 he knocked on the door and I opened it and took the beautiful wild flowers he brought. He came in while I put the flowers in water and he wandered around my lounge looking at the pictures